A mistaken identity. A gruesome murder. Was it self-defense? Or Regicide?

Trained as a warrior, Brighit of Clan Cruadhlaoch despises the trappings and demands of womanhood…

Selfish dreams need to be set aside for the good of the clan, but a shocking murder only causes more turmoil. Especially as she stands accused. With no one else to turn to, can Brighit find escape in the arms of her new husband or will he require she reveal her inner most secrets?

Darragh of Clan MacNaughton is expected to follow his father into kingship but has little desire for the coveted title…

His willful wife is another matter. He has great desire for her. Despite her denial, he sees her womanly virtues and it sets him afire to know her, both body and soul. Will she resist his overwhelming need to possess all of her?

Firstly, I have to say this is why I love to read Medieval Romances, this is simply marvellous! York has a gift – I can grant you that – a gift for bringing to the world timeless, exhilarating and hugely romantic stories that bring to life a time where men were real men is the third book in The Derbfine Series, and it’s a scorcher. There is an arranged marriage with an very reluctant wife – who wants to be one of the boys – a murder mystery and blackmail all tied up with a very romantic bow.

A marriage between Brighit of Clan Cruadhlaoch and Darragh of Clan MacNaughton would unite their two clans, bring peace and secure peace with the other clans too, Darragh knows that marrying fiery tom-boy Brighit is going to be an interesting affair but he knows his duty and he knows just how important this truce is going to be for their kin but more than that he is inexplicably drawn to the little fiery temptress. Only thing is that this particular temptress has other ideas of what she wants – and it’s not him!

…When he finally broke the intoxicating kiss, he was breathing hard. “Oh Brighit. Never believe I would compare ye to another . Ye will not be found lacking because I will teach ye the only things ye need to know.”“Ye will teach me ?”

Brighit was raised by her father; Sean, the King of Clan Cruadhloach as a warrior, she has always had the opportunity to do exactly what she wished, her father pandered to her every whim that is until she reached maturity and she began to be treated with kiddie gloves because she was a woman. Being the daughter of the King, she knows that one day she would have to what is required of her, that day comes far to early for her liking with animosity rife amongst the clans the best way to bring peace is for two of the most powerful clans to unite which means that she now has to marry the very man she loathes.

Brighit decides that if she is to be chained to that man for the rest of her life she wants her last chance of freedom, she persuades her uncle to take her along on one of his legendary raiding parties. Only for what should have been an easy – and in Brighit’s mind, fun – mission turns sour and dangerous when they are unexpectedly set on and thing’s turn very nasty indeed, when someone of import is killed – leading to event’s that changes everything for all parties.

When I first met Brighit I thought she was extremely spoilt, she has had everything she has ever wanted and when someone says no to her she gets mardy and starts doing what a lot of toddlers do and has a tantrum. But the more I got to know her I saw her in a different light, I think she is a bit of a lost, confused little girl who is wanting everyone’s approval – but especially her father’s. Yes, she is very impulsive she runs in to things with eyes shut and without thinking, which always gets her into trouble it’s not until her life is actually at risk that she starts to realise that she has been going about things all wrong.

The relationship – or lack of it –between Brighit and Darragh is very one sided, Darragh does love her he wants to do the best for her and he genuinely wants to be a good husband. He knows he will never be King in his own right, and that does pray on his mind especially she Brighit comes from that world. I think under that roguish warrior’s pride there is a sensitive and very real man who just want to settle down.

…..Breaking the kiss, she seemed to purr in his ear. “I have wanted ye something fierce…..”

I do like Darragh, he isn’t what I would have thought of a warrior he is a lot calmer and serene than most men in his role, he is wants to live a very simple life – get married, have children and maybe have his own farmstead but obviously his position as a ri’s son makes that dream difficult for him and he definitely never thought he would want all that with Brighit.

They haven’t even been married twenty-four hours before thing’s take a deadly turn, when Brighit is embroiled in a blackmail attempt because of what happened, dare she finally put aside her distaste for her husband and tell him everything? In the meantime, while she is making herself sick with worry, Darragh is slowly becoming more and more frustrated by his wife’s lack of civility towards him. It is only due them getting stuck in a storm while she is ill, that he finally learns her feeling towards him. They are an odd couple at first but soon her feelings for him grows into something other than hate, and into something earthier, more natural and it is then that the story becomes a lot hotter – sizzling hot! 😉

“A moment,” Darragh kept hold of her hand, though he moved it to his heart, when she would have stood. “Ye cannot know what ye mean to me.” Her breath caught…

I will admit that at first, I wasn’t taken with Brighit, she came across as a pampered, spoilt princess, she was a slow burner for me and I did at first think that luscious, lovely Darragh deserved better, but I was proven wrong. Thanks to York’s remarkable writing my view on Brighit was replaced by awe for this incredibly brave woman. This has everything I have come to expect from Ms York, a stonking great story that grasp’s your imagination and takes you on a thrilling journey in another time with her usual flawless and signature passion for the era, her excellent knowledge and gift for drawing the reader in to a story that has depth, intrigue and above all York’s distinctive and impressive romance throughout.

I do love this series, and this one is wonderful.

Daughter of The King is to be released 17th March and can be pre-ordered now on Amazon.

Her father’s will dictates that Violet Harper must wed or be disinherited—but she’d rather face the wilderness of the wintry Yorkshire moors than be bound to cynical, damaged soldier Lance Amberton. Lance promises a marriage of convenience that will grant Violet her independence. In exchange she must put her faith in Lance, and see beyond his gruff exterior to the man beneath…

Firstly, let me say that if I was one of those reviewer’s who rates books with star’s then this would be a huge ten star book, but as I’m not I’ll just overly gush about how much I love this book instead.

I am an avid reader of Jenni Fletcher’s work, everything from her Medieval’s to this Victorian and I have to say that this is the finest I have read, Captains Amberton’s Inherited Bride is a beautifully written story with some well-crafted and defined character’s, which portrays a wealth of knowledge and research into the era. I am an odd reader that I can always seem to ‘see’ the hero of the story so much clearer than the heroine, yet in this case Violet spoke to me – her character shouted out and made me listen and when I did, the revelations of not just the character but of how I felt about her were astounding.

Are you saying that you were willing to lose your inheritance just to walk around some old walls?’ ‘Yes.’ She seemed nonplussed by his reaction…..‘Indeed.’ He didn’t know whether to laugh or be offended. ‘You must have heard some very interesting stories about me, Miss Harper. I’ve always flattered myself that I was more attractive than crumbling stone.’‘I didn’t mean it like that. It’s not the wall itself—more the idea of it. The freedom to do something I want to do. That’s what I want, freedom.’

Lance (Lancelot) Amberton is the black sheep of the family, he is on a knife-edge where his father is concerned and so when an innocent mis-understanding concerning his twin brother’s future wife; Violet, this just confirms everything that his father and the whole of society think of him – that he is a un-repenting scoundrel who has is a basically a waste of space. Lance gets banished from and right there and then he walk’s out of his family home, goes back to the army and from that day he never see’s his brother or father again.

After living her life practically, a prisoner in her own home, because of her stern, selfish and controlling father – who is such a pathetic bully who really should be ashamed of his treatment of his beautiful daughter. Violet has always been told by him that the only reason any man would want to go near her was because of her vast wealth, she grew up sheltered in her prison like home with this man telling her daily that she is odd, ugly and no one will ever love her for her. At her first ever – and only ever – social outing she meets Captain Amberton, who because of her naivety she instantly thinks that he is making fun of her and doing what her father has always said a man will do to her and string her along. One thing leads to another and she is witness to the Captains banishment, while she is pushed closer and closer to the Arthur; Lance’s twin.

Arthur is a man who is very unhappy with his lot in life, he doesn’t want to marry Violet he has his eyes set on the beauty of society but being the more reticent and dutiful twin, he never stands up for himself where his father is concerned. He goes along with whatever his father says, but in his heart and mind he is screaming for someone to listen to him.

Five years later Violet’s father, Lance’s Father and Arthur all die, she thinks that this is her chance for the freedom she so desperately yearns for, she is severely saddened by Arthurs death, but she cannot hide the fact that she now feels free. That is until she hears of the terms of her father’s will, which basically states that if she doesn’t marry the heir to Amberton she will be cut off, which is one thing but that’s means as Lance is now the heir it is in his hands her fate and happiness rests. She really doesn’t want to marry him, infact she doesn’t want to be in the same breathing space as the ‘beast’ as he is now called. She can’t go back to how her life was, to putting herself back under the control of man she wants to live rather than be ruled over.

…staring at her feet for a few seconds before crouching down suddenly. ‘There a pattern here.’‘It’s a Yorkshire rose.’ He watched the graceful sweep of her fingers across the floorboards. She was so small, so delicate, and yet there was something entrancing about her….

Lance isn’t the fun-loving, scoundrel he was, he has become a cold, stoic and deeply unhappy man, and I do have to say that my heart bleeds for this traumatised man. The pain he is in – not just due to being shot in the leg, but he is emotionally damaged and that has a lot to do with his family and their treatment of him more than what he had to go through while at war, even though that has had a huge impact on his character.

He blames Violet for everything that has happened to him and I suppose you can see where he is coming from, for the first time in his life he was doing something that was good and proper and because of that he gets banished from his family. The only person Lance knows who is always on his side is his twin brother Arthur – are you seeing the Arthurian link yet? I love that! Arthur is the only person in Lance’s world who genuinely has any love for him, so when Arthur drowns in what is classed as an accident, Lance feels as though someone has ripped out his heart. Like the other half of himself has been stolen away, he is absolutely gutted!

He isn’t keen on the idea of marrying Violet, any more than she is of him and there is some hugely entertaining moments between them as they bicker and throw insults to and fro. I do love a ‘Enemies to Lover’s’ trope and this was right up my street. I do really like Lance, he reminds me of John Thornton from North and South, he is a tormented but ever such a good man and I never did feel that he was the scoundrel that his father and whole of society deemed him to be. After coming back from the war injured instead of skulking away into the shadows – don’t get me wrong he does that too, his soul intention on a daily basis is to drink himself into oblivion – he decides to help put the people of his estate and neighbouring area’s by not only purchasing a iron works but he wants to open a colliery which not only brings vital jobs to the area but gives him something to live for – other than living in the bottom of a whisky bottle. He thinks of the regular people, he feels their plight and he wants to do the best for them.

‘A kitten and a beast?’‘Violet and Lance.’ She lifted her head up to kiss him lightly, and then not so lightly, on the lips. ‘Who will Arthur find, I wonder?’

I always seem to understand and ‘get’ the heroes, I don’t seem to connect with heroines as much as I do the heroes but, in this case, it is so different. I felt hugely connected to Violet in a way that I haven’t ever connected with a heroine before, I understood her! Everything about Violet struck a cord with me, parts of her character and circumstances reminded me of myself. I understood her thirst for knowledge, her fascination with history her urgent need to do what she wants with no restrictions and being able to explore places she has never been before, see things she has always wanted to see without responsibilities holding her back. She is a sheltered little thing who just wants a bit of freedom to do what she wants, when we first meet her she is a naive over sensitive little thing, but I saw a sparkle, a fire under that sheltered façade.

For me this is by far the best Fletcher has done, I do love her medieval’s but this is something special, I do have a real soft spot for Victorian stories and this is just fabulous it is infused with Fletcher’s unrelenting passion for history, for the era and especially for Yorkshire. I particularly love how she has written in the beautiful Yorkshire Rose into the floors and ceiling of Amberton Castle. I love the Arthurian undercurrent is such a wonderful addition, it’s subtle and perfect for the story. I really can’t say too many good things about this book, for me it is a breath-takingly pure and beautiful tale and this story really shows just what a fine and articulated writer Ms Fletcher is, she time after time shows that she can handle the hard and complicated stories as well as the loving romantic ones.

I think that any author who can switch so seamlessly from one era to another and create such inspiring and fabulously original stories that draw you in are so talented and Jenni Fletcher is up there with the best.

Just perfect!

Captain Amberton’s Inherited Bride is to be released on 22nd March and can be pre-ordered at Amazon

Three wild rakes whose seductive charms and aristocratic titles have the ladies of the ton swooning behind their fans. United by their charitable foundation to help those effected by the war, these lords are the firmest of friend’s.

But they guard their hardened heart’s almost as closely as they do their riches…that’s is, until they encounter here very special women.

Could these innocent ladies be the ones to tame these wild lords one and for all?

Alan Rothwell, Marquess of Ravenscar, is furious when unconventional heiress Lily Wallace refuses him purchase of her property. He can’t even win her over with his infamous charm. But when fever seizes him and they’re trapped together, horrified, Alan realizes Lily’s attentions will compromise them both! His solution: take Lily as his betrothed before desire consumes them completely…

This is book two in was has fast become one of my favourite series; The Wild Lords and Innocent Ladies Series, this series is just amazing I have been hooked by it since reading book one; Lord Hunter’s Cinderella Heiress which grabbed my attention. The three lords Hunter, Ravenscar and Stanton are three of the most eye-catchingly sexy and golden hearted men you will ever meet, and I have been looking forward to reading Raven’s story since meeting him in the previous and all I can say it was well worth the wait. He and Lily are such a beautiful and remarkable couple.

Alan Rothewell – or Raven – is on a mission, he needs to find another house which can be used in the same way as Hope House; which is a bit of a rest home/help house for veteran’s who are in need. Because of an incident with his previous house he needs a new one and he finds the perfect property that would fit the job perfectly; Hollywell Cottage, all Raven needs is to persuade the new owner to sell it him – all before his grandmother finds out that he has returned to the village where he grew up. But he soon finds that the new owner isn’t going to be as accommodating as he initial thought especially when said owner is threatening to take off Raven’s head with a medieval spear. Raven cannot believe that the fiery – if in his view deluded – young red head is now the owner of the cottage, he tries all the tricks that he can muster to get the spilt heiress on side, but nothing works unbelievably this odd creature is immune to his charm.

He wasn’t used to being treated with such cavalier insouciance; Rakehell Raven usually caused a much more gratifying response. Women either ran from him or ran to him, they rarely held their ground…

…did she really think that mace would do an ounce of good against him?…

Heiress Lily Wallace want’s nothing to do with the man everyone calls ‘Rakehell Raven’ with living with his grandmother and his sister until she finds her feet she has heard all about the charming rogue. She knows first hand what men like him want and there is no way he is going to get that from her and she knows that if someone like him ever gets their hand s on Holly well it will be turned into some sort of brothel and from past experiences with that side of life she isn’t going to let that happen. Beside she has full intention to be living there herself, she doesn’t want to do what society bids her to do and marry -which would be giving up her freedom. No, that is not going to happen. So, when ‘Rakehell Raven’ turns up she is more than happy to say no to him.

But when Raven falls seriously ill she has no choice but to look after him, she thinks more of his welfare and the fact that the handsome as sin man with the sad eyes will die if she doesn’t help him then her reputation. As they are stuck completely alone together as she nurses back to health they soon learn that their first impressions of one another are not exactly accurate, she isn’t at selfish and spoilt she has got and independent stubborn streak that can reveal his own and he isn’t at all the rake that his reputation proceeds him to be, especially when they become betrothed to protect her reputation.

“If I were halfway a gentleman, I would point out that you shouldn’t be alone with me in a bedroom. Grim is not an adequate chaperone…”

Raven is such a complex man he has got so much buried in his past that he tries to keep at the back of his mind, he has got shadows lurking in every corner. He hasn’t had the best of starts after the death of his parent’s he and his sister were sent to live with their grandparent’s only for one thing to led to another and his grandmother ending up disowning him. To me Raven isn’t your stereotypical aristocrat, he has trued to distance himself from that as much as possible never really fitting in or being accepted that is until he joined the army and later when he met Hunter and Stanton. You can see just how much those two men mean to Raven, with Hunter and Stanton and their work with Hope House he has finally found something that he hadn’t thought he could ever have.

Lily understands him so much more than anyone else, she has been through her own trials and sadness, he carries around with him so much self-loathing and guilt that it took a very special woman to be able to tackle that part of him and Lily is just the woman for him, Temple has done a wonderful job at pairing these two together.

I particularly like the addition of Grim; Raven’s huge black dog, and the story behind how Temple came to put this lovable canine into to the story – all to do with dogs guarding graveyards, it is fascinating.

This series is just fabulous, it is getting better and better as we go along, the underlining story that connects these books is one of moving on and finding peace and second chances. Now I do love stories where veterans feature where the story really show case those that have served, that have done their duty and come home and once home that is where the real hard work starts. Temple for me is the go to girl for this trope, her genuine love and knowledge of these character’s and this story line really shines through, this series brings attention a topic that is very close to my heart and to read how these three aristocrats who have each got personal stories are helping those that are in need is as always tender and endearing.

“Alan, my Raven with his broken wing, I do love you. I am so glad you shoved me off my island,”

I just love that quote!

Mix that part of the story in with the fact that Raven is a blatant gruff, sex-god and Lily a wild, cunning fox then you have a stonking good romance. Temple really is my go to author for passionate, cleverly witty and sensitive books that grip you from the onset and keep you hooked.

I just love it and I cannot wait to see where Temple takes this series with the next instalment; Lord Stanton’s last Mistress. Very highly recommended!

This was an ARC from the author in conjunction with the blog tour, in exchange for an honest review.

Lord Ravenscar’s Inconvenient Betrothal is released today and can be found at Amazon .

***

Lara Temple writes strong, sexy regency romances about complex individuals who give no quarter but do so with plenty of passion. Her fifth book with Harlequin Mills & Boon, ‘Lord Ravenscar’s Inconvenient Betrothal,’ will be published in March 2018, and is the second in her Wild Lords series. Her four previous books are: Lord Hunter’s Cinderella Heiress, The Duke’s Unexpected Bride, The Reluctant Viscount, and Lord Crayle’s Secret World.

When she was fifteen Lara found a very grubby copy of Georgette Heyer’s Faro’s Daughter in an equally grubby book store. Several blissful hours later she emerged, blinking, into the light of day completely in love with Regency Romance but it took three decades of various fascinating but completely unrelated careers in finance and high tech before she returned to her first love.

Lara lives with her husband and two children who are very good about her taking over the kitchen table for her writing (so she can look out over the garden and dream). She loves to travel (especially to places steeped in history) and read as many books as possible. She recently went looking for that crowded little bookstore but couldn’t quite remember around what corner it was…hopefully it is still there and another girl is in the corner by the window, reading and dreaming…

In this Matches Made in Scandal story, Count Aleksei Derevenko hires governess Allison Galbraith for her skills as a herbalist, not as a mistress! But when rumours spread Allison is shocked by her wanton reaction to Aleksei. His inscrutable icy blue eyes promise white-hot nights of sin! She knows too well how fragile her reputation is, but will the price of their passion be worth paying?

This is book one in this new series; Matches Made in Scandal and what a sterling start, to what is set to be a great series. Judging by this book we are in store to meet some wonderful character’s and become absorbed into some gripping and romantic stories. From Governess to Countess is a mixture of devoted and endearing love and a gripping ‘Wants going to happen next’ story,

Allison Galbraith after an unfortunate incident that ruined her hard worked for career and sent her to be living in practical isolation in the middle of know where, she is shocked to find the legendary “Procurer” standing on her doorstep offering her something that she never thought she could have; a second chance. The Procurer has been hired by her client – the supremely sexy and charismatic Count Aleksei Derevenko – to find a woman who not only will be a governess to his orphaned wards, but also to do another task, a task that top secret and for the sake of the Derevenko name and cannot be disclosed to anyone. Allison knows that she has nothing to lose by accepting this new job, she has lost confidence and faith not just in other’s but in herself and her abilities and this is the chance for to gain that back again.

When Allison arrives in St Petersburg she finally comes face to face with the mysterious Count Derevenko, he isn’t at all what she expects he is firstly a lot younger then she had originally thought him to be. And with those brighter than bright, blue eyes twinkling at her, he proves himself to be not just mysterious but highly seductive.

He was not wearing his uniform today, for which she was – shamefully – grateful, for it was true what the courtier had whispered salaciously last night, there was something about a man in uniform. Or at least there was something about this man in uniform….

Allison, she has been through a lot, as a herbalist she is a woman competing in a man’s world, she has had to fend of scorn and distrust to be able to do what she loves, only for that to be taken away from her in the harshest way. I think that what happened to her has knocked her confidence, she has lost a lot of faith in those around her and especially in herself. Which is a real shame! She has gone back into her little shell, I got a sense that before the incident she was a strong woman who was a real fighter but when she withdrew from public she became little more than a naïve and vulnerable little girl. The transformation in her the moment she steps foot in St Petersburg is so lovely to see, she blooms into a sensual woman all with the help of our dashing Count.

Aleksei was at Waterloo when his older brother and sister-in-law suddenly died within days of each other, he returns home to take responsibility for his nieces and nephew and of the estate. He has suspicions of what really happened to his brother, but he knows that he can’t trust those around him, the whole of Russian society is bloody thirsty and back-stabbing. With the Procurer’s help he employs Allison, first and foremost as a governess for his orphaned wards, but he needs her skills in something much more important – and dangerous. Will she be able to help him, but more than that – can Aleksei keep his hands off her long enough for them to finally get to the bottom of what really happened? He falls for her instantly but he holds himself back but she doesn’t make things easy for him to be a good boy and not act on his surging and all encompassing urge to give into his desire for her and have his wicked way with her – not that she would complain, after all who would? 😉

Aleksei is a career soldier who doesn’t know how to – or even if he wants to – take over for his late brother, even though he is a dutiful man he would much rather be back at the front with his men. He is uncomfortable in the grand and glamourous – if in some ways deadly – society. At heart Aleksei is a man of simple loves, such as spending an afternoon on the lake with the woman he loves or just taking a moment to appreciate a good cup of tea. He is such an unusual man and not at all what I expected of a Russian Count he has a magnetic charm that draws any woman with a pulse to him like a moth to a flame. Charismatic, suave and charming to a fault and under all that raw sex appeal there lies a real conflicted man, a man who is out of his depth.

“What if you are disappointed?”

“That is simply not possible” Aleksei turned her hand over, pressing a kiss to her palm. “I have wanted you so much, from the moment I met you.”

“Have you?” Her voice no longer sounded strident, but breathy, her pulses were still fluttering, but in a very different manner.

“You know I have…”

From Governess to Countess is an engaging story, it dazzles you with the chemistry between Allison and Aleskei and teases you into wanting more. The twists and turns regarding what happened with Aleksei’s brother which runs throughout the story is intriguing but more than that, I particularly like how vivid St Petersburg and the Deverenko palace are, you can just feel the grandeur and the glitz. Ms Kaye transport’s you to a glamourous and place where people aren’t who they seem and has created a supremely ogle-worthy hero who glitter’s and shimmer’s in your imagination.

I hugely enjoyed this book, and I am so looking forward to seeing where Ms Kaye is going to take this series. Highly recommended!

This was an ARC copy via the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Governess to Countess if to be release on 22nd February and can be pre-ordered at Amazon.

An epic tale of an enduring love, powerful enough to survive time and circumstance. Two souls destined to be halves of a whole, but fated to be kept apart. And yet, a love such as this is not content to blindly accept the bonds of fate…

Nathaniel can hardly recall a time he hasn’t adored Madeline. For Madeline, he truly is her knight in shining armour. Alas, one stolen night is all they are granted before Madeline is given in marriage to the wealthy and titled Earl of Marbourne, who is a great favourite of the king. A whirlwind of intrigue and contrivance follows Madeline as she joins the court and catches the eye of the king, whilst cruel fate conspires to keep Madeline and Nathaniel apart despite their desperate love.

This is the second book by Ms Snow and it is so different to that what I have read before, this is a lot lighter then I had come to expect from her, but in no way lacking. The story of two star crossed lovers torn apart by circumstance and life is endearing.

Nathanial is the low born son of one of lady Elspeth’s maids, his lordship; John of Alwinsopp was a decent man and gave Nathanial opportunities that in any other household he would never have been able to achieve; such as getting the education that only an aristocrat could afford, and it is through close contact and practically living with the family that he and Lord John’s only daughter; Lady Madeline became best friends. Nathanial and Madeline first had a loving brother/sister relationship but after various events they both came to realise that they actually love one and other. So, when her father decides that now is the time that his free-spirited daughter to marry they are both distraught over their imminent separation.

Madeline knows that she will never love any man the ways she does Nate and so on the eve of her wedding to a man she has just met, she persuades Nate to let her have just one night with him, one night with the man she loves where she can just be herself. Nate cannot believe that Madeline came to him, but he knows that this could be the last time he ever sees her, so he gives her what she wants – what they both want. It is tender and loving, all their feelings for each other just comes pouring out of the page you can really feeling their angst at the situation that they are in.

Nate isn’t a complicated man, he likes simplicity I think he would like to see the world as black and white/right and wrong, but he soon learns that life isn’t always like, so he does what he knows is right and protects the one woman he loves above his very life. He is a wonderful character, he’s very quiet and unassuming a man who will always do what is needed of him.

Her mother; Lady Elspeth is a spiteful and somewhat selfish creature who has disliked and resented Madeline just because she wasn’t born a son, the son Lady Elspeth wanted so much. Now the moment has arrived that she is to be rid of the daughter that she never wanted, and she goes about it in her usual spiteful and somewhat humiliating way for Madeline, her mother cannot wait to push Madeline into the arms of her intended.

Her betrothed; the Earl of Marbourne is a good man – true the only reason he did want to wed her is to get some heirs, but he is a kind and generous man who I think does have a real fondness for his young wife. But their married life doesn’t go smoothly, firstly there is resentment for their union from the Earl’s current heir and then with the earl being close to the King, Madeline soon finds herself under the hawk like gaze and attention of the King himself. Soon Madeline finds herself in some tricky situations with the King and with her new husband falling ill and all the while, all she can think of is her true love Nate.

Overruled by Fate is very Tristen and Isolde, two loves who you know are supposed to be together are cruelly torn apart and kept apart by each of their own destiny’s. I love how throughout the story their love for each other is absolute, there is no question of their feeling for each other. Even when they each find themselves heading in different directions in their heart they will only be whole when the other one is near.

Over all this is yet another winner in my eyes, Ms Snow has shown that she can easily handle a multitude of different eras with sharpness and tact. I found that this is a lot lighter in tone, it’s not as dark and gritty as I have come to expect from her, but it’s a thoughtful and complex story that has a lot of miner story lines entwined into the bigger picture that keeps you engrossed.

Very much highly recommended, Ms Snow is proving what a skilful writer she is.

Overruled by Fate is released on 22nd February and can be pre-ordered now at Amazon.

Lottie Livingstone bears the weight of an island on her shoulders, under threat of losing their home, she and her clan take to the seas to sell a ship load of illegal Whisky. When an attack leaves them vulnerable, she transforms from a maiden daughter to a clever warrior. For survival, she orchestrates the siege of a rival’s ship and now holds the devilish Scottish captain Aulay Mackenzie under her command.

Tied, captive and forced to watch a stunning siren commandeer the Mackenzie ship, Auley burns with the desire to seize control – of the ship and Lottie. He has resigned himself to a life of solitude on the open seas, but her beauty tantalizes him like nothing has before. As authorities and enemies close in, he is torn between surrendering her to justice and defending her from assailant. He could lose her forever, unless he’s willing to sacrifice the unimaginable….

Devil in Tartan is book four in the Highland Grooms series, this series has just gone from strength to strength, as we have got to know each of the brother’s. I have been looking forward to reading Aulay’s story, we have seen him pop in to the series, he has been like a shadow in the background. He’s been there but not as fully formed as the other brothers have been – in my opinion, so when you finally come to read his story you read it as a standalone as though everything is new.

Lottie and her family on the fringes of ruination, their rent is over due and her father yet again just dismisses it and claims as always that they will be alright and all the while they are sinking deeper and deeper. Lottie is at her wit’s end, the only way for them to maybe get out of the hole they are currently stuck in is for her to marry their clan chief who will then go on to pa off the Livingstone’s debt’s but that route would come at an even bigger cost then the actual debt and it is something that Lottie just cannot face, but she would for her family.

That is until her father comes up with a plan; they will sell their illegal whiskey but not in Scotland or England where their laird can hear about their treachery. They all pile on to a ship, not one of them knowing how to sail and set off with their illegal whiskey, it is while at sea that the real issues start. After sinking a Royal Naval ship, they are sinking when Aulay on the Rhulaig Balhair comes along to save them.

Captain Aulay MacKenzie is on his way to Demark with his own cargo that he needs to drop off, he has made a deal that he will deliver his cargo and in return his family will be saved from their own financial ruin. But when he comes across a sinking ship, he is a good man and a good Captain at first after seeing the at sea battle between Lottie’s ship and the Royal ship he is a bit dubious whether to help or not – but his better side wins and he does the decent thing, only for the extraordinarily beautiful woman to knock him and take his ship – basically she pirated his ship!

Aulay is absolutely fuming and he wants justice for this traitorous act of piracy, and yes there is a lot of growling and threats about hanging’s coming from our enigmatic Captain. As Lottie and Aulay are forced into close quarters as they battle for leadership – not just regarding who Captains the ship either – Aulay learns that there was a reason behind Lottie’s actions, even if those actions could sentence her to death for piracy. Aulay is a compassionate man and on hearing her tale of woe he understands her plight, after all he is doing something very similar to save his own family. As his feeling for her grow is stuck between a rock and a hard place; does he do the right thing and turn her over, so justice can be served? Or does he do all he can to protect the woman he has given his heart to?

Aulay and Lottie go through so much in such a short space of time, they start of hating each other – even though Lottie doesn’t really hate him, she distrusts him, but it’s not hate, whereas Aulay can’t wait to string her up. I think the scenes where they are bickering are some of the best in the book, I really like how they seem to bounce of each other, how their personalities can be conflicting and yet they are hugely sensual.

As much as I do really, really like Devil in Tartan – and I do like it, the plot is fun and it makes you think about what’s going on and the characters are sexy and hugely likable, but I got the distinct feeling that there was something lacking, it has everything you would want in a ‘Enemies to Lovers’ Historical Romance so I can’t quite put my finger on what was missing, but for me this one didn’t seem to have that legendary London sparkle that I am so used to.

It is a really good story and one that I do very much recommend, even though it is a series I found that each one can be read as a standalone.

As a female warrior, Dagmar Kolbeinndottar knows she’s not meant for marriage and a family. Until she’s kidnapped by Celtic warlord Aedan mac Connall, who has been tasked with returning Dagmar to her estranged father. Fighting her father’s orders to marry, Dagmar declares she will take no one but her abductor, expecting Aedan to refuse…

But he’s intent on making her his bride!

Oh, my!! What a fantastic read, I do have a real soft spot for Medieval/Viking Romances and this is terrific. Warriors Viking Bride is a edge of seat, seductive read that captures your imagination and takes you on a wonderous journey through a time that was dangerous but also highly sexy. I have read so many great thing’s about Michelle Style’s writing and I am ashamed to say that this is the first of her work I have read, but that will be remedied from now on as I have become transfixed with her smooth and articulated writing.

When Dagmar was just a child her father returned home with another woman, who would be his next wife. Dagmar is heartbroken when her father tells her mother to leave, but Dagmar would be staying under the watchful eye of her “new” mother. Dagmar’s mother fight’s tooth and nail to keep her daughter – which isn’t surprising seeing as she is a great warrior in her own right – and after a vicious battle between her two, beloved parent’s, Dagmar and her mother flee in the night never to look on her father and her childhood home ever again.

“You’re a good warrior, Gael. Your timing is impeccable,” she said awkwardly, holding out her hand “I’m honoured to be a part of your Felag.”

Years later, after the death of her beloved mother, Dagmar is now the “Shield Maiden” she is a warrior in her own right and one not to be messed with. She is known as the painted warrior with snakes in her hair, as she paints her face blue – a swirl for every battle she has fought in and her long hair is plaited in way to look like snakes, only her mother and her oldest friend know the truth, but Dagmar knows that people believing her snake haired ruse will keep unwanted people at bay. Especially now since her mother died, enemies are everywhere those that she is fighting against and those within her camp all wanting to take her position as leader of the Felag. Even her own father and his new wife have been known to send out assassins. So, when one day another warrior turns up on the day of her next and hopefully final battle, claiming he from her father and wants to talk she is instantly alert – usually she would just dispatch them and send the remains back to her father, but something about this one makes her stop, he seems different somehow. Before she can decide what to do she is in battle where everything goes wrong, and her life changes forever.

The invincible warrior was a shield which hid this frightened woman. He hated to think what she must have faced as a young girl. “It’ll be fine, Dagmar,’ he said. “Your safe. Ill protect you. You’ve done enough.”

She gave an indistinct murmur and snuggled closer. Laid her head on his chest and pinned him down, every time he tried to move, she followed.

Keeping an arm around her, he took off his cloak and spread it over them both. He instantly smiled in her sleep….

Dagmar is a complicated woman she has multiple of layer’s that makes this woman fascinating and lovable. I do like strong decisive heroines who put the heroes into their places, women who have a brain and know exactly how to use it and who do what they want, when they want and women who strive for that equality. Dagmar is that in a nutshell, she is a warrior in her own right, and she isn’t afraid of showing those around her exactly who is the boss. She also has a very vulnerable side to her personality, she was hugely affected by her parent’s actions when she was a child and that has caused a lot of trust issues, especially regarding men.

Aeden has been charged to collect Dagmar and take her to her father, he has sworn to himself that he won’t ever fall in love and take a bride. That’s until he meets Dagmar, she infuriates the hell out of him with her stubbornness and argumentative streak and yet, she seems to sooth his torn and shattered heart. He has made a promise to her father that he won’t touch her as her father has plans of his own for his daughter, but that proves too hard for the usually stoic warrior to do. The only reason that he is even doing this task is because he has no choice, if he wants to save his people, then he must take the angry, volatile and fragile Dagmar to her father – which really is easier said than done. Aeden is a warrior in his own right, he is a proud, resilient man who doesn’t let anything get in his way, if he can help it and especially not a beautiful and infuriating woman.

Aedan is a deep-thinking man, who was thrown unceremoniously into this duty. He is a bit of a lone wolf, he will do what is needed of him but after various trials that he had to go through, he has become rather cynical with other people and their motives, the only person he trust’s is himself and his dog; Mor. I love the addition of Mor to the story, the gentle giant for me is a crucial part of the story and of bringing these two vulnerable and hugely cynical people together.

He gave a crooked smile. “I’m the one who can see your face in the morning dawn, I’m the one who makes the judgement about your beauty, not you.”

Every particle of her was aware of him, a great ache filled her insides. Aeden in this mood was dangerous in a way that he hadn’t been before. She forced a laugh. “You walked into an army with just a dog for protection, your judgement is suspect.”

“But, it remains mine,” he gave a soft laugh which made her insides melt…

The relationship between Dagmar and Aedan is steamy and raw, they are actually very much a like and those similar traits does cause them to head bump each other, on numerous occasion’s and yet when they start to learn each other’s history and personal trails, they have a mutual respect for each other. But that doesn’t mean that everything is going to be all rosy, Aeden and Dagmar have a lot of obstacles to get past.

Ms Styles has created an original and I found it to be a very moving story about moving on, and second chances. The storyline is a wonderful blend of romance and action with that seductive and mysterious quality that you only get from the Medieval era. I think Ms Styles has got Aeden and Dagmar spot on, they are both highly charged individuals who need the other in each of their lives.

This is so good, I cannot recommend it more.

This was an ARC copy via the author in exchange for an honest review.

Warriors Viking Bride is to be released on 22nd February and can be pre-ordered now at Amazon.

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